Folding carton and opening flap therefor



June 19,1951 0. M. MILLER FOLDING CARTON AND OPENING FLAP THEREFOR 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z] r WM OTIoJLHILLERalw'lllllllll M. MILLER I FOLDING cm'rou AND ops-mus FLAP THEREFOR'II/III/IIII June 19, 1951 Filed Jan 8, 1948 Patented June 19, 1951UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CARTON OPENING FLAP THEREFOR om M.Miller, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to Owens- 1 Illinois Glass Company, acorporation of Ohio Application January 8, 1948, Serial No. 1,154

12 Claims. 1

My invention relates to cartons of sheet material such as cardboard,boxboard, or the like formed by folding blanks of the sheet material.The invention relates particularly to sealing means for the carton and anovel form of pullup or opening flap for breaking the seal and openingthe carton.

Cartons of this general type which are not new in the art includevarious constructions in which the top or lid of the carton is sealed inclosed position by means of a flap extending downward over the front ofthe carton, a restricted area of the flap being glued to the front panelof the carton. The carton is opened by pulling the flap in a manner totear away the glued portion.

Such constructions are unsatisfactory for various reasons. The cartonsare difficult toopen and the method of opening the carton isunsatisfactory as it results in mutilatin or weakening the wall of thecarton by tearing away portions of the fibrous material to which theflap is glued. An object of the. present invention is 2 positionpreparatory to completely breaking the cover seal;

Fig. 9 is a similar view with the cover seal broken and the cover liftedto an intermediate defining a top panel rear panel l8, bottom to providea novel construction free from the above noted and other objectionscharacteristic of prior art cartons. More particularly, my inventionprovides a carton with a pull-up or opening fiap which, when pulled upwill effect a clean break of the seal 0r holding means for the cover,without sacrificing strength at the point of closure and without tearingany glued fiber from the area of the carton overlying the contents ofthe package.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the outer face of a scored blank adapted to befolded to form the carton;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the inner face of an end portion ofthe blank;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sealed carton;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the opening flap lifted to a positionin which the die-cut portions are partially broken from their anchorage;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view on a comparatively large scale showingthe sealing flap with its row of the removable segments;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the cover lifted a shortdistance;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation showing the sealingand opening flaps folded down and the cover sealed;

Fig. 8 is a similar view with the pull-up or opening flap pulledoutwardly to an intermediate panel I9, and front panel 20. End flaps 2|fold upwardly from the bottom panel at the score lines The rear andfront panels I 8 and 20 fold upwardly at the lines It and I3respectively. End flaps 22 and 23 fold inwardly over the up: turned endflaps 2| and are interlocked by tongues 24 and slits 25. End flaps 26fold downwardly from the top panel I! so as to extend downwardly betweenthe inner flaps 2| and the outer interlocking flaps 22, 23. The blank asthus far described and detailed by reference numbers is old in the artand forms no part of the present invention except as combined andcooperating with the novel construction of the opening flap and theholding or sealing means therefor, now to be described.

The blank is formed at one end with an extension 30 forming a sealingflap which, when the blank is folded or set up in box form, foldsdownward at the line l2 to lie against the outer face of the front panel20. The flap 30 is diecut to form a row of removable segments 3|,separable from the adjoining panel and flap section in the operation ofopening the carton as hereinafter described. Each segment is entirelysevered from the blank except at very restricted areas or points 32 and33 (Fig. 5). The fold line I2 consists of slits extending through theblank and severing the flap 30 from the body of the blank except at thepoints 33.

Each segment 3| is defined by an arc-shaped slit 3N and slits 3|perpendicular to the base line I2. The slits 3| are arranged in a rowextending lengthwise of the flap 30, dividing the.

latter into an upper section 3|) and a lower section 30', said sectionsbeing integrally united at the restricted areas or points 32. The strip3|)" of segments is likewise connected to the body of the blank only atthe restricted areas or 3 points 33 in the line I2. When the flap 30 isfolded downward against the front panel 20,

the lower section thereof or strip 30 is adhered to the outer face ofthe panel by a strip 35 (Figs. 1 and 7 to 9) of glue or other adhesivematerial. The area of the adhesive is confined entirely to the lowersection 30 of the flap, being applied to a narrow strip area below andpreferably separated from the strip 30" of segments.

The blank is formed, at the opposite end thereof from the sealing flap30, with an integral flap or extension 36 herein referred to as thepull-up or opening flap, which serves for lifting the cover and openingthe carton as hereinafter described. When the blank is folded to boxform, the flap 36 is folded down over the front face of the sealing flap30. The pull-up flap 36 has a strip 31 of glue or an adhesive applied toits inner face, the adhesive covering a strip area adjacent to the foldline 16 and extending throughout the length of the flap. This area ofadhesive is so positioned that when the pull-up flap 36 is foldeddownwardly against the sealing flap 30 and adhered thereto, the strip 31of adhesive comes entirely or mostly within the area of the removablesegment strip 30 When the sealing strip 30 and the pull-up strip 36 arefolded down and the parts adhered as indicated in Fig. '7, the top orcover I! of the carton is secured or sealed in its closed position. Thesegment strip 30 provides a releasable connecting means between thecover 11 and the flap section 30 which is glued to the front panel 35.The pull-up flap 36 is formed with a score line 38 which in the sealedcarton is below the segment strip 30 said score line defining the upperedge of a flap extension 39 which extends a short distance below thesealing flap 30 and provides a finger piece or tab.

In practice, the blanks (Fig. l) are usually first folded to bring theend flaps 30 and 36 into superposed relation and said flaps are gluedtogether. The blanks, in knockdown form, are then packed and shipped tothe place where they are to be filled with ice cream or other commodity.The blanks are then squared and one end folded, the carton filled andthe opposite end then closed to complete the package.

For unsealing and opening the carton, the tab 39 is pulled outwardly asindicated in Fig.3, swinging upward about the line 38 as a hinge. Afurther pull to the Fig. 8 position breaks the connections of theremovable segment strip 3t at the points 32. This leaves the cover heldin closed position owing to the connection of the removable segmentstrip to the front panel at points 33. A further upward pull on the flap36 breaks the connections at the points 33, thereby entirely releasingthe cover as shown in Fig. 6 and permitting it to be swung wide open.

Fig. 10 illustrates a modification of the sealing flap 30 andparticularly the removable segment strip. As here shown, the segments 3|are separated by narrow strips 45 which are integrally united with thebody of the blank along the fold line l2. The individual segments areintegrally united with the adjoining portions of flap 30 at the pointsor restricted areas 32 It will be seen that with this construction. thestrip 3'! of adhesive by which the pull-up flap 35 is adhered to thesealing flap 30. will overlie portions of the strips 45 as well assegments 31. In opening the carton, the pull-up flap 36 will bedisconnected from the sealing flap 30 by breaking the connece tions 32*and disrupting the seal at the restricted strip areas 45.

Fig. 11 shows a further modification wherein the slits 3| shown in Fig.5 are omitted so that the removable section 30 is a continuous, unbrokenstrip extcnding the full length of the flap. The flap sections 30 and30" have their meeting edges defined by the row of slits 3P.

Other forms of the invention than those herein disclosed may be resortedto within the spirit and scope of my invention defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a hingedcover, an upright front panel, a sealing flap integral with said paneland folded down from the upper edge of the panel, an adhesive covering astrip area of the flap spaced below the upper edge thereof and sealing astrip of said fiap to the panel, said flap including a removable stripintermediate said edge and the strip of adhesive material, meansproviding a weakened connection between the panel and said removablestrip and between said removable strip and the strip sealed to thepanel, and a lifting device connected to the cover and to said removablestrip and providing a means for detaching said removable strip andlifting the cover,

2. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a hingedcover, an upright front panel, a sealing flap integral with said paneland folded down from the upper edge of the panel, an adhesive covering astrip area of the flap spaced below the upper edge thereof and sealing astrip of said flap to the panel, said flap including a removable stripintermediate said edge and the strip of adhesive material, meansproviding a, weakened connection between the panel and said removablestrip and between said removable strip and the strip sealed to thepanel, and a flap connected to said cover and extending downwardtherefrom and adhered to said removable strip and thereby providing ameans for sealing the cover in closed position and for detaching saidremovable section and lifting the cover.

3. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising a hingedcover, an upright front panel, a sealing flap integral with said paneland folded down from the upper edge of the panel, an adhesive covering astrip area of the flap spaced below the upper edge thereof and sealing astrip of said flap to the panel, said flap including a removable stripintermediate said edge and the strip of adhesive material, meansproviding a weakened connection between the panel and said removablestrip and between said removable strip and the strip sealed to thepanel, said removable strip being unadhered to the panel, a pull-up flapextending from the front edge of the cover and integrally unitedtherewith by a fold line forming'a hinge for the flap, said pull-up flapbeing folded downward over the face of the sealing flap, and adhesivematerial adhering the lifting flap to said removable strip.

4. A carton consisting of foldable sheet material and comprising ahinged cover, a front panel. a sealing fiap forming an integralextension of the panel, said fiap being connected with the front panelalong a fold line, the carton being formed with a row of slits extendinglengthwise along the fold line, the adjacent ends of the slits beingnarrowly spaced apart by integral portions of the sheet material, saidflap being folded downward at said fold line and adhered to the frontface of the panel by a strip of adhesive material extending along theflap at an area spaced below the said fold line, said flap including aremovable strip intermediate the adhered portion of the flap and saidfold line, the upper edge of said removable strip being defined by saidfold line, means providing a weakened connection between the lower edgeof the removable strip and the adhered portion of the flap, and apull-up flap connected to the cover and adhered to said removable strip.

5. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising avertically disposed front panel and a horizontally disposed top panelforming a cover for the carton, a sealing fiap integral with the frontpanel and folded downward at a fold line at the upper edge of the paneland sealed to the panel by a strip of adhesive material extendinglengthwise of the flap and spaced below said fold line, said flapcomprising a removable strip section between said sealed portion of theflap and said fold line, said removable strip including a row of die-cutsegments, the base of the row of segments being defined by a row ofslits extending along the fold line, said slits alternating with uncutportions of the sheet material, said segments being integrally united bya row of minute areas of the material spaced below said fold line, and apull-up flap integral with the said cover and folded down along thefront edge of the cover and adhered to the said removable strip.

6. A carton formed of foldable sheet material and comprising avertically disposed front panel and a horizontally disposed top panelforming a cover for the carton, a sealing flap integral with the frontpanel and folded downward at a fold line at the upper edge of the paneland sealed to the panel by a strip of adhesive material extendinglengthwise of the flap and spaced below said fold line, said flapcomprising a removable strip section between said sealed portion of theflap and said fold line, said removable strip including a row of die-cutsegments, the base of the row of segments being defined by a row ofslits extending along the fold line, said slits alternating with uncutportions of the sheet material, said segments being integrally united bya row of minute areas of the material spaced below said fold line, and apull-up flap integrally united with the cover along a fold line at thefront edge of the cover, said pull-up flap being glued to said removablestrip and formed-with a score line below the removable strip, theportion of the flap below said score line forming a hinged finger tab.

'7. A blank of foldable sheet material formed with fold lines includingparallel lines extending lengthwise of the blank and transverse parallellines, said blank being foldable along said lines to form a cartonhaving top, bottom, rear, front, and end panels, said blank including anintegral sealing flap united along a said fold line to the front panel,said flap having a strip of adhesive material thereon extendinglengthwise of the flap and spaced from the front panel to provide astrip area free from adhesive, the blank having a pull-up flap at theopposite end thereof, united to the said top panel by a fold linepermitting the pull-up flap to be folded downward over the sealing flapin the set-up carton, said pull-up flap having a strip of adhesivematerial extending lengthwise thereof adjacent to the top panel and sopositioned that in the set-up carton the adhesive material on thepull-up flap will overlie the said strip area of the sealing flap whichis free from adhesive.

8. A blank of foldable sheet material formed with fold lines at whichthe blank is foldable to form a carton, a sealing flap at one end of theblank united to the body of the blank along a weakened fold line, saidsealing flap having a strip of adhesive material on one face thereofextending along the flap parallel with and spaced from the said weakenedfold line to provide a strip area free from adhesive material, meansproviding a weakened line connection between the portion of the sealingflap with the adhesive material and the said strip area which is freefrom adhesive material, the blank having a second flap integraltherewith at the opposite end of the blank from the sealing flap andunited to the body of the blank along a fold line; said second fiaphaving a strip of adhesive material closely adjacent to said fold lineand on the opposite face of the blank from the first mentioned strip ofadhesive material and positioned and adapted, when the blank is folded,to overlie the said strip area of the sealing flap which is free fromadhesive material, with said weakened line connection between andextending along said strips of adhesive material.

9. A carton formed of sheet material and comprising a top cover portionmovable to and from a closed position. and a front wall having a portioncomprising an inner ply and an outer ply, the outer ply having arestricted portion of its area adhered to the inner ply by an adhesiveand a free unadhered portion between said adhered portion and the upperedge of said front Wall, said free portion including a removable sectionpartially severed from the surrounding material by narrowly spaced slitsdefining weakened lines between the said removable section and thesurrounding material permitting said section to be easily broken away,said cover portion having a flap extension overlying and adhered to saidremovable section for holding the cover portion in closed position, saidcover being releasable by breaking away the removable section from thesurrounding material.

10. A carton formed of foldable sheet material, comprising a hingedcover, an upright front panel, a sealing strip adhered to the face ofthe panel by adhesive material covering a'restricted area of the sealingstrip spaced below the upper edge of the strip, said sealing stripcomprising a removable section above and outside of the area of saidadhesive material, means providing a weakened line extending betweensaid removable section and said area, a pull-up flap connected to thecover, and adhesive connecting the pull-up flap to said removablesection for disconnecting it along said weakened line when the fiap ispulled up, the removable section being unadhered to the front panel andfree to be lifted with the cover when disconnected at said weakenedline.

11. A carton formed of foldable she'et material, comprising a hingedcover, an upright front panel, a sealing strip adhered to the face ofthe panel by adhesive material covering a restricted area of the sealingstrip spaced below the upper edge of the strip, said sealing stripcomprising a re movable section above and outside of the area of saidadhesive material and overlying but not adhered to the upper portion ofthe said face of the panel, a pull-up flap connected to the cover, andadhesive connecting the pull-up flap to said removable section, saidremovable section comprising a row of die-cut segments, the bases of thesegments being defined by a row of slits cut through the sheet materialalong a line at the upper edge of the front panel with the adjacent endsof the said slits spaced apart by integral portions of the sheetmaterial, said removable section being free to be lifted from said frontpanel when detached from the adhered portion of the sealing strip by anupward pull on the pull-up flap.

12. A carton of foldable sheet material comprising a hinged top cover,an upright front panel, a piece of sheet material overlying the face ofthe front panel and extending therealong adjacent to the upper edgethereof, said piece comprising an upper strip portion and a lower stripportion therebeneath, adhesive material applied to said lower stripportion and securing it directly to said front panel, said upper stripportion being free from adhesive material, means providing a weakenedline connection between said upper and lower strip portions andextending lengthwise thereof, and a flap connected to said cover andextending downward therefrom and overlying and adhered to said upperstrip portion, and thereby providing a means for sealing the cover inclosed position and for detaching said upper stripportion and liftingthe cover.

OTTO M. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,992,222 LaGrua Feb. 26, 19352,083,158 Ramsey June 8, 1937 2,181,837 Snyder et al Nov. 28, 1939

